Red Dylan Thomas

Welsh poet Dylan Thomas once said he was a socialist, but a different kind of socialist. Those who knew him were aware of his consistent, ardent favour of a socialist society.

From discussing the annihilation of the ruling classes with his communist friend Bert Trick, through his work for the Ministry of Information in World War Two advocating and explaining the future welfare state, to his lectures, free of charge to the USA's Communist Party in his last days, Dylan always did what he thought was his bit to further the cause.

The Marxist nature of his work is not always as evident, but it is there. From his obvious 1930s work about the depression, to more subtle influences in his later work and the classic The Doctor and the Devils (a fabulous demonstration of class society).

Introduced by Geoff Jones, Red Dylan features superb essays by the late Vic Golightly and the late Victor Paananen about his work and commitment to socialism. Plus an article with a modern take on discovering Dylan Thomas' socialist history by Scott Jones.

Anniversary

It is an essential antidote to the material appearing in the capitalist press commemorating the 100th anniversary of the writer's birth. He was praised by princes and capitalist politicians alike but don't let the ruling class rob him of his radicalism. Read Red Dylan and discover Dylan the red.